WRAP-UP: 2025 NRL Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Week 1
3 hours ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
WRAP-UP: 2025 NRL Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Week 1
All the results and scorers from the opening weekend of the NRL Pre-Season., along with the current ladder and Week 2 fixtures.
All listed times are AEDT (NSW/VIC/ACT).
RELATED: See the full list of 2025 NRL Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Draw and Results.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12 Warriors 12
Season opens with a draw - the Sharks and Warriors couldn't be split after 80 minutes of action at a fairly empty Shark Park on Friday night. Both sides fielded relatively youthful lineups and scores were level at the break, with each side scoring a converted try per half. By the final 20 minutes both teams were unrecognisable from the start of the match with long benches being rotated on. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak sustained a wrist injury in the match and is now in doubt for the Wahs' trip to Vegas where they'll face Penrith.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (12)
Tries: Hohepa Puru, Thomas Hazelton
Goals: Mawene Hiroti 1/1, Daniel Atkinson 1/1
Warriors (12)
Tries: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Taine Tuaupiki
Goals: Luke Metcalf 2/2
Venue: Sharks Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal.
Date: Fri, 7th February. Kickoff: 7:30 PM. Halftime: 6-all. Penalties: Warriors 7-5. Referee: Liam Kennedy.
JUDICIARY: No charges
Cronulla: Kennedy, Katoa, Hiroti, Iro, Stonestreet; Atkinson, Puru; Hamlin-Uele, Berrell, Hazelton, Talakai, Burns, Kaufusi. Int: Puru, Hau Tapuha, Crouch, Hosking, Vea'ila, Pickering, Gabrael, Fearnley, Ford, Pollard, Clark, Dixon, Faatili, McCulloch.
Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Watene-Zelezniak, Leiataua, Pompey, Kosi; Martin, Metcalf; Fisher-Harris, Egan, Barnett (C), Niukore, Capewell, Clark. Int: Laban, Vaimauga, Graham-Taufa, Kali, Hanson, Cleary, Tuaupiki, Amituanai, Afoa, Ieremia-Toeava, Healey, Walker, Stowers-Smith, Lussick, Pasikala.
Penrith Panthers 16 Canberra Raiders 22
Raiders hold on - Canberra dominated the contest but the Panthers rallied late to make the final ten minutes and intriguing contest. The Green Machine led 6-4 at the break, streaking ahead with a quick-fire double in the first ten minutes after halftime. When the lead pushed to 22-4 at the 64th minute the result looked assured, but Penrith dotted down either side of the 70 minute mark to slash the margin to six points. Torrential rain kicked in after that and the points dried up, the Raiders able to hold on for the remainder.
Penrith Panthers (16)
Tries: Samuel Lane, Zack Lamont, David Fale
Goals: Trent Toelau 2/2
Canberra Raiders (22)
Tries: Owen Pattie 2, Simi Sasagi, Noah Martin
Goals: Adam Cook 1/1, Ethan Sanders 1/2, Keahn Skipps 1/1
Venue: Sharks Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal.
Date: Sat, 8th February. Kickoff: 7:30 PM. Halftime: Canberra 6-4. Penalties: 6-all. Referee: Belinda Sharpe.
JUDICIARY: No charges
Penrith: Laurie, McLean, Fonua, Kepaoa, Mclean; Cole, Schneider; Patea, Sommerton, Riki, Geyer, Papali'i, Toelau. Int: Vailalo, Sagaga, Clarke, Lamont, Apelu, Fale, Letoi, Scott, Edgar, Lipowicz, Lane, Phillips, Murphy.
Canberra: Stewart, Asomua, Hopoate, Waitere, Stuart; Cook (C), Sanders; Martin, Packer, Saulo, Sasagi, Nicholson, Martin. Int: Alaia, Thompson, Carr, Tuialii, Pattie, Skipps, Taumoepeau, Afamasaga, Taateo, Clydsdale, Roddy, Martin, Mariota, Prest, Lavender.
Ladder after Week 1
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | F | A | Diff | Bonus | Pts |
| 1 | Canberra | 1 | 1 | - | - | 22 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 13 |
| 2 | Cronulla | 1 | - | - | 1 | 12 | 12 | 0 | - | 6 |
| = | Warriors | 1 | - | - | 1 | 12 | 12 | 0 | - | 6 |
| 4 | Brisbane | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| = | Canterbury | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| = | Dolphins | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| = | Gold Coast | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| = | Manly | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| = | Melbourne | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| = | Newcastle | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| = | North Qld | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| = | Parramatta | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| = | St Geo Illa | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| = | Souths | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| = | Sydney | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| = | Wests Tigers | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| 17 | Penrith | 1 | - | 1 | - | 16 | 22 | -6 | - | 0 |
Week 2
Canberra Raiders v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Thu 13 Feb 7:50PM at GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal
Newcastle Knights v Parramatta Eels
Fri 14 Feb 6:00PM at McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal
North Queensland Cowboys v Dolphins
Fri 14 Feb 8:00PM at Barlow Park, Cairns / Yidinji (7:00pm local)
Warriors v Melbourne Storm
Sat 15 Feb 1:30PM at Go Media Stadium, Penrose / Aotearoa (3:30PM local)
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sat 15 Feb 3:30PM at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford / Darkinjung
Brisbane Broncos v Gold Coast Titans
Sun 16 Feb 3:30PM at Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba / Giabal (2:30PM local)
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
Sun 16 Feb 5:30PM at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Carlton / Bidjigal
St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters
Sun 16 Feb 7:30PM at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Carlton / Bidjigal